Kolkata: The Junior doctors alleged that they were assaulted by West Bengal Police personnel during a protest march from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The demonstrators claimed they were peacefully protesting when a few of their peers were beaten by police. “Two of our colleagues waiting near a road (in Dhrmatala) for us were beaten up by the police. We do not know the reason. We were conducting a peaceful rally here and had permission to hold a press conference here. We protest this attitude of the policemen. Police have to apologise, else we will continue with our demonstration,” one of the junior doctors said, as quoted by PTI. The junior medics held a rally from the SSKM Hospital in the city’s Bhowanipore area to Dharmatala. The doctors had earlier gone on a complete ‘cease work’ for 42 days following the rape and murder of a fellow medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. They ended their strike on September 21 after discussions with state officials, resuming essential services. The medics, however, renewed their ‘cease work’ on October 1 after an attack on them by a patient’s family at the state-run College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital last week. Further, Bharatiya Janata Party has mounted an attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress government alleging that the West Bengal Police 'brutally assaulted" the junior doctors during their peaceful protest. BJP IT Department Head Amit Malviya shared a video alleging that people claiming to be part of state police force assaulted the doctors. Malviya pointed out that the men seen in the video were not wearing uniform. Times Now couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the video."The situation in West Bengal is deeply troubling. The Mamata Banerjee-led WB Police brutally assaulted peacefully protesting Junior Doctors, who were seeking justice for the deceased doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The PGT doctors were kicked around by men, who claimed to be Police, but were not in uniform," posted Malviya on X.
"The Junior Doctors have now issued a 24-hour ultimatum, for their demands to be met, failing which they will begin a hunger strike, unto death. Mamata Banerjee’s high handedness will be held to account for any unfortunate incident that occurs during Durga Puja," he added. Agitating doctors have announced their decision to withdraw the cease-work demonstration considering the interest of the common people who come for medical services at state-run hospitals. The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF), spearheading the movement, announced the decision to call of cease-work and said that the medics will start a fast-unto-death agitation if their demands that are within the jurisdiction of the West Bengal government are not fulfilled within 24 hours.The other demands include immediate removal of the state health secretary, introduction of centralised referral system and digital bed vacancy monitor, task forces based on each college, with elected representation of junior doctors, increased police protection in hospitals, filling up of vacant posts of doctors, nursing staff and health workers and setting up of inquiry committees must be established in every medical college to investigate those involved in threat syndicates and punish them.The situation in West Bengal is deeply troubling.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 4, 2024
The Mamata Banerjee-led WB Police brutally assaulted peacefully protesting Junior Doctors, who were seeking justice for the deceased doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The PGT doctors were kicked around by men, who… pic.twitter.com/Lg2gTKU7ap
